Sleepless Nights

August 3, 2009
Bilston's sequel to Bed Rest describes new parenthood with emotion and humor, despite some flimsy plot contrivances and undeveloped characters. Five weeks after giving birth, Quinn "Q" Boothroyd wonders if she'll be able to balance motherhood and corporate law. The tension builds when Q's husband, Tom, hears rumors of downsizing at his own law firm. A vacation seems to be the cure, and, luckily, Tom's former colleague, Paul Dupont, offers up his Connecticut summer home. Together with Q's sister, Jeanie, the family settles in for a few weeks of rest, but the vacation is far from perfect: baby Samuel won't stop screaming and Jeanie and Paul are constantly at each other's throats. When Paul suggests that Q and Tom take over a local law practice, they think he's crazy, until a custody case has them rethinking small-town law. Bilston's plucky heroines are sympathetic, and she pulls no punches when describing the difficulties of parenting a newborn. The supporting characters, however, are bland, and a romantic subplot slows the story to a crawl. Fans of Bilston's first novel may enjoy the follow-up, but it won't attract many new readers.